After being evacuated to Western Ukraine in 1986 following the Chernobyl disaster, Hütz became enamored of the mystical, outsider qualities of gypsy music. Living as a refugee in Poland, Hungary, Austria, and Italy before moving to the United States in 1993, he experienced life as an outsider himself.
After arriving in New York, he teamed up with guitarist Vlad Solofar and squeezebox player Sasha Kazatchkoff. American Eliot Fergusen added a strong rock sound on the drums and the band was also augmented by Sergei Riabtsev on fiddle, a former theater director from Moscow whose past experience would prove helpful in the future in crafting Gogol Bordello's bizarre stage shows (like one which tells the story of super-powered immigrant Ukrainian vampires).
The group's early gigs involved playing straight gypsy music at Russian weddings, but their music soon evolved into the hyper-kinetic explosions that earned them a solid following amongst New York's downtown hipsters. The band issued a single in 1999 entitled Gogol Bordello, quickly followed by their debut full-length, Voi-La Intruder, which was produced by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds' drummer Jim Sclavunos. Solofar and Kazatchkoff were replaced by accordionist Yuri Lemeshev, who hails from the Russian island of Sakhalin, and two Israelis, guitarist Oren Kaplan and saxophonist Ori Kaplan, who despite their similar names were not related.
Hütz helped bolster the band's popularity by becoming somewhat of a celebrity in the downtown scene, in part fueled by his Thursday night DJ gigs at Bulgarian club/restaurant/bar Mehanata, where he played Ukrainian, Gypsy, raï and flamenco music for a crowd of artists, models, Ukrainians, Russians, Gypsies, and Bulgarians with tendencies toward exuberant dancing and smashing plates. In the spring of 2002, Gogol Bordello embarked on a European tour and performed as part of the Whitney Biennial, bringing their music to a whole new audience.
In 2007, the band released their fourth studio album, Super Taranta!.
The members of Gogol Bordello have also made appearances in film. In 2006, their song "Start Wearing Purple" was featured in the film Everything Is Illuminated (starring Elijah Wood and Eugene Hütz), bringing their music to an even broader audience throughout the US.
Gogol Bordello all appeared in Madonna's first short film as director, Filth and Wisdom. Eugene Hütz is to play one of the lead roles. The band have contributed three original songs to the soundtrack.
Their music was also featured in the film Wristcutters: A Love Story and the character of Eugene was based on and partially written by Eugene Hütz.
Mala Vida
Gogol Bordello Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo pronto me voy a escapar
Gitana mia por lo menos date cuenta
Gitana mia por favor
Tu me dejas respirar
Tu me estas dando mala vida
Dime tu porque te trato yo tan bien
Cuando tu me hablas como un cabron
Gitana mia
Mi corazito est? Ufriendo
Gitana mia por favor
Sufriendo mal nutricion
Tu me estas dando mala vida
Cada dia se la traga mi corazon
The song Mala Vida by Gogol Bordello is an upbeat and energetic tune with lyrics that reveal the pain and suffering that the singer is going through due to the toxic and abusive relationship with his lover, the Gitana. The song resonates with everyone who has ever been through emotional or mental abuse in a relationship.
The opening lines of the song "Tu me estas dando mala vida, Yo pronto me voy a escapar" can be translated to "You are giving me a bad life, I will soon escape". The singer is tired of being trapped in this unhealthy and toxic relationship and can't wait to get out. He pleads with his lover to realize what she is doing to him and to let him breathe.
The chorus of the song repeats the same phrase "Tu me estas dando mala vida," which means "You are giving me a bad life" to emphasize the pain and suffering that the singer is enduring. The lines "Cada dia se la traga mi corazon" (Every day, my heart is swallowed) paints a picture of the singer's despair as he continues to swallow his pain and sadness every day. The song ends with the lines "Mi corazito esta sufriendo, Sufrimiento malnutricion" which means "My little heart is suffering from malnutrition". This metaphor implies that the singer has been neglected and starved of the love and care he deserves.
Line by Line Meaning
Tu me estas dando mala vida
You're giving me a hard time, causing me pain and suffering.
Yo pronto me voy a escapar
I'm going to escape soon to find freedom and relief from your abuse.
Gitana mia por lo menos date cuenta
My dear gypsy, please realize the damage you're causing me.
Gitana mia por favor
My dear gypsy, please listen to me and show me some mercy.
Tu me dejas respirar
You give me some breathing space and allow me to live a little.
Cada dia se la traga mi corazon
Every day my heart suffers and takes the pain you inflict on me.
Dime tu porque te trato yo tan bien
Tell me, why do I treat you so kindly when you speak to me like a jerk?
Cuando tu me hablas como un cabron
When you talk to me disrespectfully and abusively.
Mi corazito est? sufriendo
My little heart is suffering greatly under your cruel hand.
Sufriendo mal nutricion
I'm suffering malnutrition due to the stress and anxiety you cause me.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT (FRANCE), BMG Rights Management, BMG VM MUSIC FRANCE, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jose Manuel Chao
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind